For more photos, please visit my Facebook page, or Jong’s blog for professional shooting.

I have been traveling for 2 weeks. During that time, I didn’t do any sport other than endless walking under the sun. I miss kickboxing like hell and my body was about to enter dormant mode. But as I mentioned earlier that I’m a lucky girl, right when I needed some exercise the most, I had a chance to approach one of the most exciting outdoor sports that I’d long heard of: rock climbing. All thank to my 2 lovely friends Jong Saw Kang and Hui Hui who Annie introduced to me and the group of rock climbers in Kuching who didn’t mind sharing gears with me.

Saw Kang & Hui Hui (from Hui Hui’s Facebook)

On Saturday, we went climbing at the Bukit Batu Tapang, widely known among local climbers as the Tooth, located in 17th mile, about 40 minutes driving from Kuching. When we arrived at 10am, there were already about 15 climbers.

As I expected, most of them are Westerners, as I didn’t expect, all of them are super friendly and very experienced. They asked me if I wanted to try and before I could notice anything, I found myself ready to climb up. No instruction, no safety notice! I was really scared! The one who belayed me was Malcolm, a very tough seasoned climber. He instructed me from the ground, and occasionally shouted at me when I didn’t follow. He wanted me to come down when I kept holding the rope, but somehow I kept climbing up, and I managed to get on top. Just a day after did I find out that he was really mad at me. But I like his style. He made me think of one of kickboxing instructors, Master Khoo Meng Yang. They are both very tough, but that’s when we can learn the most.

After that, I climbed several more times, and I also climbed at the Batman Wall on Sunday. I found out that rock climbing is actually very safe if we follow all safety instruction properly. Rock climbing is not only about physical condition, it’s also about mental strength. You need to overcome fear and procrastination. However, I still feel really bad about my body. On Sunday, it took me forever to complete a baby climb at the Batman Wall and my arms were tired like hell. I need to do more exercise!

Climbing at the Batman wall

Another thing that made my first rock climbing experience even more worthy is the news that the Tooth is going to be blasted out by a local company from Bau. A reporter from the Star was there to cover the story as the last attempt to save to rock. Most people there don’t have much hope in that, but they just did their best. They LOVE the rock! It’s one of few perfect spots for rock climbing in Kuching! I really hope that it can work, somehow. I like the place too, and I hate the idea that people keep using development as an excuse to destroy nature.

On the Star. I’m quite happy that they called me a travel writer, but not happy that they didn’t call me Chip. Plus my picture is a huge turn off

Tags: Batman Wall, Bukit Batu Tapang, Kuching, Malaysia, Rock Climbing, Sarawak, the Tooth